Means for recording and reproducing impulses



(No Model.)

w. H. COOLE'Y. MEANS FOR RECORDING AND RBPRODUGING IMPULSBS.

Patented Feb. '18, 1896;

M.PHUTOUTIID.WASNING UNITED STATES AATETNT Grrrcn.

\VILLIAM H. COOLEY, OF BROGKPORT, NEW YORK.

MEANS FOR RECORDING AND REPRODUCING IMPULSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,862, dated February18, 1896.

Application filed April 16, 1889- $erial No. 307,506. (No model.)

To 0L whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. CooLEY, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Brockport, in the county of Monroe and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means forRecording, Reproducing, and Telegraphing impulses, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The object of my invention is the recording of any impulses capable ofproducing vibrations in a diaphragm or other equivalent device in such amanner and upon such a recording-surface that such original impulses maybe reproduced at any desired place and time or number of times andtelegraphically transmitted between any two stations in telegraphiccommunication with each other. The nature of the record of such impulsesconsists in changing the conductivity of the recordingsurface along theline or surface of the record effected thereon and also in changing thefrictional resistance of such recording-surface with the record thereonin moving contact with another suitable bearing surface or spring.

An important feature of my present invention consists in thecombination, with such recording-surface and means for producingundulations in an electric current caused to pass therethrough, of adiaphragm and a spring connected therewith and pressing upon such movingrecording-surface, with a record thereon of such a nature that thefriction between such spring and moving surface shall be varied exactlyaccording with such electric undulations, which are also caused to passthrough such moving surface and spring.

The accompanying drawings represent such portions only of apparatus forrecording, reproducing, and telegraphically transmitting impulses,according to my invention, as are necessary to illustrate the essentialfeatures thereof. They are as follows:

Figure 1 is a face view of my recording apparatus. Fig. 2 is a centralvertical section of the same at right angles with the plane of Fig. 1.Fig. 3 shows -a modified form of the stylus O and the record producedthereby in a view similar to that seen in Fig. 2. Figs.

l, 5', and 10 illustrate modified forms of my record. Fig. 6 is a sideview, and Fig. 7 a

top View, of my apparatus for reproducing such impulses from suchrecord, with the rim supporting the diaphragm in either figure shown ina central section taken parallel with the plane of such figure. Fig. 8shows the pulley H of Figs. 6, 7, and 9 in a top or plan view. Fig. 9shows, in similar view to Figs. 6 and 7, in a plan or top view amodification of my invention.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several figures.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, E is a roller, around whichthere is caused to pass continuously, by means of any suitablemechanism, (not -shown,) a band or fillet of paper R. This fillet Rmaybe of paper, and preferably should be glazed only on that sideintended to receive the record, which may be effected by means of asuitable fluid contained in a vessel D and supplied by a suitable tubeor capillary fiber d either to the point of stylus G or to a brush orpad 0 attached thereto. This stylus O is reduced in thickness at itsupper end and secured, as seen in Fig. 2, to a projection on the upperedge of the annular seat B and actuated from a diaphragm A, secured tosuch seat B and by means of a rod a projecting axially from the centerof the diaphragm A.

When the fluid from the vessel D is supplied directlyto the point ofsuch stylus, the record then, as seen at r in Figs. 3 and 5,will be inthe form of a sinuous line; but when such fluid is supplied to the brushor pad 0, axially disposed'with regard to roller E and with its sharpedge bearing against the fillet R thereon, then it is important thatsuch fillet should be protected throughout its entire length, and over,say, about one-third of its width, as indicated in Figs. 3, 4, and 5 bythe continuous straight unrecorded portion r. As indicated in Figs. 2and 4, this may be effected by means of the thin protecting-strip 6,supported from and secured to the pins 6 and 6 This brush or pad 0shouldbe so adjusted that at all times during the vibration of stylus 0some portion of its length shall bear against or rest upon theprotecting-strip 6. Thus it will be seen that the record in this casetakes the form of a surface constantly varying in width, and with suchor surface.

variations all on one side, the other side being straight. The fiuidwith which such record is written should consist of any suitable, buthighly volatile insulating-varnish, and also one that is impervious tothe action of the liquid with which such band or fillet is afterward tobe saturated.

For a recordingsurface any suitable thin and tough paper may be used,and for a recording fluid photographers eollodion or varnish may beused, or gutta-percha or indiarubber dissolved in chloroform, or avarnish of parafiine may be used. It is desirable that such recordshould lie wholly on the surface of such paper.

To aid in rapid recording and to prevent blurring or injury to therecord, a secondary band or fillet l in passing over the roller L,

i as seen in Fig. 1. is immediately superimposed upon the recorded sideof the band or fillet R by being passed together with it between therollers Z and P. This filletl R, after the record thereon has beeneffected in the manner described, when it is desired to reproduce and totelegraphically transmit such recorded impulses to any distant station,I saturate with any suitable conducting solution of such a nature thatwhen such fillet is moved in contact with a suitable springthe amount offrictionbetween such spring and fillet shall be varied by changes in thepotentialof an electric current caused to pass through such fillet andspring. For this purpose any suitable electrolytic or similarlyoperating material, as a solution of pyrogallic acid and chloride ofsodium, may be used. This solution willbe, absorbed through such filletexcept along the line or surface of the record thereon, and thus rendersuch: filleta seiniconductor of electricity except along such line Thepaper fillet, it willibe understood, readily absorbs the electrolyticsolution and becomes a conductor of electricity directly through it atall points from one side or surface to the other, except alongithe.surface of the record in insulating-yarnish. .To reproduce and transmitthe originalimpulses recorded on such fillet R, such fillet, after beingtreated in the manner just described, is caused,asseen in Figs. 0 and 7,by means of any suitable mechanism ,(not shown) to pass continuouslyover a roller ll with the unrecorded side of such fillet next to suchroller. This roller II, as will. be seen by reference to Fig. 8, isformed of an insulatingcylindcr Ii suitably secured toia platinumfacedconducting-cylinder h.

A spring f has its free end bearing upon the straight-edged unrecordedportion 7' of the fillet R, while the other end of this spring f issecured to the center of the diaphragm F, seated against the annular rimG.

distant station.

also pressing upon this band or fillet R, as seen in Figs. 6 and 7, isthe spring N, composed of any suitable semiconducting material, havingits bearing-surface reduced to a fine edge and also having securedthereto on one edge thereof the conductive strip a. The portions N and nare both secured to the metallic rod or pin a. This spring N isarranged, as seen, to bear only upon that portion of the band or filletR that is left free and unprotected to receive the record, and this bandor fillet R in passing over-the roller 11 should be so adjusted that aportion of the record 0' at the straight edge thereof shall come overthe conductive cylinder h.

For the semiconductive portion of the spring N compressed felt saturatedwith any suitable conducting liquid is preferable, although any suitablesemiconducting substance may be used. Spring f should be of copper, withits bearing or wearing. surface platinumtipped.

The current :from a :batteryK, as seen in Fig. 7, is caused, bynieans ofwires 1, 4, 5 and .6, to traverse the primary of inductoriuin it anysuitable receiving-instruinent T, rod 01/,

and varying lengths or distances through both the semiconductivemediunrNand the fillet R, (such varying distances according ex,- actly, it willbe seen, with the record 9",) thence through roller h and againthroughthe portion 0', of 111110 fillet R and through the spring f in contacttherewith.

:The varying distances which the battery K is caused to traverse throughthe semiconducting medium of which such filletR is itself composed whensaturated in the manner described, caused by the varying widths of the.insulating-surface of the record on such-fillet R causing the'currentto traverse varying widths of the semiconducting body of the 'fillet Rin orderto reach spring N, produce variations ornndulations in thepotential of such cnrrent,.aeeording exactly with the recorded impulses,which, it will of course be readily understood, will thereby be readilyreproducedin any suitable receiving-instrument T, whether locatedat thesame or any The variations or undulationsin thepotential of the currentfrom battery Kprodueed in the manner just above described are stillfurtherinereased by the current ofsuch battery having to pass varyingdistances through the semicon ducting-spri n g N by reason of thevarying widths of the insulating-record on fillet R, in order to passfrom the conductive strip n to the semiconductive and unrecordedportionof fillet R, or such receiving instrument, instead of bei nglocateddirectly in the circuit of battery K, may be, as seen at T, by means ofwires 2 and 3 located in circuit with the secondary of inductoriuni 1.Again, these variations in the potential of battery K, caused in themanner described,varyithe friction between the spring f and the portion1' ofthe fillet R in a manner according exactly with the recordedimpulses thus causing such diaphragm F to vibrate in a manner toreproduce such impulses. Thus it will be seen that the recorded impulsesare reproduced in diaphragm F, and telegraphically transmitted andreproduced in either or both the receivers T and T. When, however, it isnot desired to telegraphically transmit such impulses, it is necessarythen that the record 0" should be of such a nature that the frictionbetween such record 1" and the spring bearing thereon should verymaterially differ from the friction between such spring and theunrecorded portion of such fillet'R. In this case the protected portionof such fillet B may be greatly reduced in width, or entirely dispensedwith, as seen in Figs. 9 and 10, while the spring f bearing on suchfillet should be greatly increased in breadth and positioned as seen atf in Fig. 9.

It will of course be readily seen that variations in the width of therecord produce variations in the friction between spring f and thefillet R according exactly with .the recorded impulses,which are therebyreproduced in vibration of the diaphragm F, added to and harmonizin gwith those produced in the manner already described and explained inconnection with the description of Figs. 6 and 7. When it is desired towrite such record in the form of a sinuous line rather than a surfacevarying in width, I coat over that side of the band or fillet intendedto receive such record, except that portion thereof which is protectedbythe strip e,w1'th collodion, and in this case the record is writtenwith sulphuric acid diluted according to the texture of the paper andthe thickness of the collodion coating. This kind of a record is seen inFigs. 3 and 5, and is used in substantially the same way just described.

The band or fillet Z above described, when used, should be soproportioned in width and should be so adjusted that the record 0" shallalways be entirely covered thereby, and also so that no portion of suchband or fillet Z shall ever come in contact with the protected portion0' of the fillet R, and for this purpose it is even preferable that theextreme edge of the recorded portion r at the straight side thereofshould not be covered by this band or fillet Z. If in place of a recordof the form shown in Figs. 4 and 5 there be used a record consisting ina series of dots or disconnected lines or surfaces, it will readily beseen that the diaphragm F will receive impulses exactly according withsuch dots or disconnected lines or surfaces.

I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the particularsubstances and material, a few only of which are herein described, norto the special forms or arrangements, as their equivalents may be usedin carrying out my invention.

\Vhat I claim isthe line or surface of such record, means for passing anelectric current transversely through such recording-surface atsuccessive points therein, longitudinally of such record, and therebyopposing to such electric current varying resistances, by varyin g thelength of the path which such current is caused to traverse through aresisting medium in or upon such recording-surface.

3. In combination with a recording-surface having a record thereon,changing in conductivity along the line or surface of such record, meansfor passing an electric current transversely through suchrecording-surface, and also through a resisting medium external theretoand in contact therewith at successive points longitudinally of suchrecord, and thereby opposing to such electric current varyingresistances, consisting in variations in the length of the path whichsuch electric current is caused to traverse through such resistingmedium exactly according with such record.

4. In combination with a recording-surface consisting of a resistingmedium having a record thereon, changing in conductivity along the lineor surface of such record, means for passing an electric currenttransversely through such recording-surface and through a resistingmedium external thereto and in contact therewith at successive pointslongitudinally in such record, and for opposing to such electric currentvarying resistances, consisting in variations in the length of the pathwhich such electric current is caused to traverse through a resisting-medium in or upon such recording-surface and also a resisting mediumexternal to such recording-surface.

5. In combination with a recording-surface consisting of a resistingmedium having a record thereon, changing in conductivity along theline-or surface of such record, means for passing an electric currenttransversely through such recording-surface and through a conductor incontact therewith, at successive points longitudinally of such record,and thereby opposing to such electric current varying resistances,consisting in variations in the length of the path which such electriccurrent is caused to pass through a resisting medium, and also means formaintaining a frictional contact between such recordingtions in thelength of the path which such surface and a conductor, suchrecording-sureurrent is caused to traverse tlnrongh a reface consistingof or containing an electr0- sisting medium.

lytie or other analogous material, suehthat WM. II. COOLEY. 5 suchfrietion'between'such recording-surface Witnesses:

and eonduetorshall vm'ywvith changes in the AARON MILLER,

potential of such current, produced by Vitliit- E. M. KNIFFEN.

